The PDP president, in an interview to a private TV news channel aired last night, defended the state government's decision to arrest Alam and book him under the controversial PSA, saying that actions supporting Lashker-e-Taiba terror group chief Hafeez Saeed would have vitiated the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehbooba, who had termed PSA as a "black spot" on democracy earlier as an opposition leader, made it clear that the decision was taken keeping in mind the forthcoming tourism season.

"Kashmir is on the road of economic recovery. People like Masarat Alam are danger to that recovery. Masarat Alam crossed the red line," she said.